Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer

 AHLO/ALO
The Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers (AHLO) provides cultural, emotional, and clinical support to Aboriginal patients and families. Their role is to provide cultural support and advocacy for Aboriginal patients to ensure that their safety and care is culturally appropriate. Whilst demonstrating acts of kindness and hostility, the patient’s needs are being met. AHLO is employed in hospitals so that Aboriginals have equitable access to health care services, which in turn can increase cultural awareness and sensitivity of health care services to Aboriginal families. It ensures that Aboriginal individuals and families receive culturally appropriate information in order for patients and families to understand medical procedures.

This culturally appropriate care allows the 58-year-old man to expand his knowledge and awareness of his diabetes condition. The man may feel he is appropriately assisted and communicated so he can understand ways to improve his condition, resulting him to feel holistic. Healthcare professionals are there to demonstrate their empathy for his needs and help him ensure he is understanding the medical processes involved. With the provision of face-to-face interaction, it allows both the man and AHLO to connect and develop a relationship. This indicates the man the feel supported and trusted that he is able to share his thoughts and needs.

 VAHS
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) provides a holistic approach towards Aboriginals in a culturally appropriate way.

VAHS provides services called ‘’Men’s Unit’’ and the help of health professionals to improve people’s conditions including the man’s diabetes. Specifically, ‘‘Men’s Unit’’ focuses on counselling, wellbeing and case management. Counselling enables the man to manage his emotions, to feel connected to himself and to direct him to a clearer future. Case managers are advocates who help people like the Aboriginal man to understand his current health status and what he can do to resolve it. They provide culturally appropriate information as to why support and receiving treatment are vitally important. Furthermore, they help motivate patients by guiding them to achieve their goals more effectively. This resource aids the man to be informative in his own way and to also make him feel holistic. VAHS consist of multiple health professionals including dietitians to educate the man what sources of nutrition he should and should not be consumed. The dietitian assesses the man to help alleviate his diabetes. The dietitian develops a food plan to help improve his health and also counsels him to develop a clear mind to focus that he is meeting proper nutritional requirements, resulting him to improve his mental health. The wellbeing of the 58-year old man will significantly improve his quality of life and independent living. With the help of staff, their support

can help the man improve his condition and avoid further health decline.
 AHW
An Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) provides high quality clinical care and conveys a mix of knowledge and skills.

They demonstrate the importance of compassion and non-judgemental care in relation to their Code of Ethics where they must follow its requirements. Their role is to respect and value a patient’s background, beliefs, values and most importantly, develop a safe cultural environment for them. Their role also provides better access, liaison, health promotion and preventative health services to the Aboriginal community. AHW have an adequate understanding of Aboriginal history which also helps to interact with Aboriginals and empathise their experiences. Aboriginal Health Workers work collaboratively to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal people and develops an appropriate relationship towards Aboriginal patients, including the 58 year old man; to allow him to share his emotions and thoughts. They demonstrate simple acts of kindness and gentleness to make people feel comfortable and safe. They educate Aboriginals who have urgent needs and concerns to help protect their health in a culturally appropriate manner. The AHW’s ability allows to culturally connect with Aboriginal patients relate to each other’s experience and develop solutions in overcoming the situation, this helps reduce the imbalance discrimination and cultural safety within a hospital environment. Their sympathetic care empowers the patient’s feeling to be safe and

comfortable.

 Education for nurses and patients
Specifically, health promotion programs provide culturally appropriate information to specific groups such as Aboriginal communities to ensure they receive the correct information. More importantly, health promotion programs such as, ‘Life!’ is implemented by Aboriginal workers to educate other Aboriginals to consume healthier food and to be physically active in order to reduce the risk of developing diseases including diabetes. In relation to the 58-year old man, ‘Life!’ helps him choose healthier habits in an attempt to prevent his uncontrolled diabetes. The program will explain to him in a way he can culturally understand the importance of the different variety of foods that affect his health, which food is affordable yet nutritional, and how to choose healthier foods. This encourages the man to make better decisions and to have a healthier lifestyle. Hence, health promotion programs are a way for nurses to introduce to patients to promote good health. It enhances the patient’s trust and to feel holistic due to the provision of resourceful information. The program educates both nurse and patient to empower their understanding and their knowledge of health behaviour in achieving to overcome health issues such as diabetes. Furthermore, in future, they will pass their ability to others so that future nurses and Aboriginals are aware of health conditions. Health promotion programs enhance people's knowledge and ability to understand Aboriginal health, therefore demonstrates to treat Aboriginal patients holistically in a hospital environment.